About The Chef and I

The Chef and I is built on a love story. That’s why it works. We serve innovative cuisine in a fun environment.

The Chef writes a new menu every week for dinner and brunch, inspired by what is in season, and only the freshest, highest quality ingredients from meat to seafood to produce. The food is gourmet but approachable; allowing folks to expand their taste profiles.

Come in and try our creations by ordering off the menu or letting the chefs put together a special meal for you with one of our tasting experiences!

Counter (Show Kitchen) seating is limited and generally require a reservation. If you desire Counter (Show Kitchen) seating, please indicate in the special requests section of your reservation.

High Top seating is all family style seating available for reservations and walk-ins.

Entertainment:The chefs are the entertainment! If you choose to sit at the show kitchen, you'll become part of the story as the chefs create your food and everyone else's! See how it all unfolds, and connect with chefs while they cook!

Catering:The Chef and I has a large catering division and we cater onsite and at many venues in Middle Tennessee! We do corporate events, galas, fundraisers, weddings, private residential events, receptions and teambuilding!

Parking Details:There is valet, pay to park lots, and street parking all around the restaurant.

The food was amazing! Our server was very helpful in suggesting a dessert and a wine to go along with it. This will definitely be a repeated date night spot. This was our first experience and our late valentine’s celebration due to work. Well worth the money!

A wonderful experience. Food was fantastic. Staff was super friendly. Environment was super cool and the valet parking was a great bonus. The Kurt Cobain is a great cocktail. The fish was superbly prepared and house cured bacon and pimento cheese was soooooo good!

Tags: Good for a Date, Good for Anniversaries, Casual, Creative Cuisine, Authentic, Handcrafted Cocktails, Tasting Menu, Fit for Foodies, Great for Brunch, Special Occasion

It was very disappointing. The food was not the quality we were expecting with the price tag that it had. It’s not good when you and your spouse can’t get out of there fast enough, because your tong is so raw from how much salt was on the food. I will definitely not return.

We sat at the counter and enjoyed being able to watch the prep and interact with the chef's. Everyone there was friendly and the staff was very attentive. Excellent food and enjoyable experience but WAY overpriced. The price was about 4 times what it should be for what you get. Expect dinner for two with the tastings to run in excess of $200.00

Tags: Fit for Foodies, Handcrafted Cocktails, Good for Anniversaries, Creative Cuisine, Good for a Date

Short answer: Awesome! And and off the beaten path of newcomers to our dining scene. Definitely try it!

We first stumbled into Chef and I on a Saturday when we forgot Arnold's is closed. We decided to walk the block and see what else is there. When we walked in front, it looked...interesting. Then commenced a wonderful brunch that led us back with our "dinner club" neighbors to put it under the microscope. All were extremely pleased.

We started with the roasted cauliflower with goat cheese and roasted b sprouts, both of which were spectacular (yes, everyone does these, but few do these at this level). For entrees, two of us had the roasted chicken, which was as good as I have had in Nashville, and two had a three-level tasting. The tasting menu is very flexible (3/5/7, with ability to move some around).

The seating and overall environment will not appeal to everyone: 25 seats in a bar setting around the open kitchen (where we sat for a very uncrowded brunch on day three of their opening), then the main room seating is communal high tops, though roomy enough that we never felt the presence of our neighbors at the dinner. Fairly loud (but not oppressive) 70s rock is the background music (a good thing IMHO). The combined effect creates a lively atmosphere within the comfort zone of anyone from Baby Boomer to Millennial. Bottom line: good place to start a fun night on the town (e.g., Rudy's Jazz Room is a two minute walk). Maybe less so if looking for quiet or romantic.

Given that ambiance, it is no surprise the service is a nice balance between low-key and patron-oriented. Our server was super cool, yet entirely focused on our experience. The Chef also visited our group, and was not superficial--really interested in our experience.

Very good menu selection and food was quite good. Noise level is loud and you sit at high top tables with others which if you want a quiet or private conversation its not possible. One side the people were fun and engaging - the other were not and clearly not pleased to have to sit next to people. Server was knowledgeable and good at explaining both the daily specials and what was on the menu.

So excited that they finally opened! We sat at the counter for dinner. It was fun watching the Chefs cook, interact with them and the manager. The pork tenderloin over hash was amazing. The whipped feta, pesto and cauliflower appetizer is a must. Squash, beefsteak tomatoes and mozzarella was very good. We are both returning soon- so many wonderful choices!

We were very pleasantly surprised. This is not your typical restaurant. There are no tables, per se, you have the option of the counter or a high top. It's all communal. If you sit at the counter, you are directly in front of the chef and his staff and get to watch them cook everything. They were all very friendly and engaged in conversation throughout the meal. The best part was the meal. We ordered tasting meals with wine pairings. The flavors were outstanding.

Not inexpensive ($350 including tip for 2), but we will definitely go back.

We've been patrons of the Chef & I since it first entered the Nashville scene in Lenox Square. Just tried the new location on 9th Avenue in the Gulch. More spacious and still the best chef prepared meals in town! We had the three topas Sunday Brunch and were not disappointed. Anxious to go back and try some of the new entree items. Chef Chris, Peter, and Cameron are the best in their creativity, skill, and conversation. I give the Chef & I five stars and five thumbs up! Dine with the Chef & I and you will be in for an unforgettable treat!

So delicious. One of our new favorites for sure. We found ourselves wondering if each dish was the best thing we had ever tasted. Also appreciated a more mature crowd and not pretentious at all. Very comfortable. I recommend sitting at the counter so that you can get the full experience and see all the dishes. We had so much fun!

Great new location with relatively new staff but the chef's know what they're doing and put out some great food. I let him know about their menu on the websites that they will update and it's a bit pricey for 3 course verses 4 course that they used to have. Now doing 3, 5, 7. Trendy and friendly staff who try hard. I suggest sitting kitchen side.

My husband and I have always loved coming to the Chef and I! I love the new location! I can’t say that I have been to another restaurant that has been able to pack so much flavor in everything they serve! We try to stop by as much as possible anytime we are in Nashville. Eating at the counter where all the action is and ordering the tasting menu is the way to go! This place is a foodie paradise!

We couldn't wait to try this new gem. Chris and Erica Rains have created an even better version of their previous South Nashville restaurant. The location and easy access makes this a great location for locals and for Nashville visitors. We loved to sit and watch Chris or Peter cooking in the kitchen from the hightop counter. Don't miss this gem.

***Request seating at the bar where the chefs prepare the meal, it's so much fun to watch and talk to the chefs. -We had a successful first visit for my boyfriend's birthday dinner. We ordered the lobster bisque soup for an appetizer, 3 course meal with wine pairing, two specialty cocktails, and we each got our own dessert. They also brought us a complimentary goat cheese/bruschetta dish which was amazing. -While we were waiting for our food, we had the pleasure of watching the sous chef/team. It was incredible to watch them prepare the meals for the entire restaurant right in front of you. The sous chef was happy to answer any questions about the dishes he was preparing and was overall friendly and welcoming. -Our waitress was super sweet and helpful, we never went without anything. -Free valet parking was providedThis was by far my favorite restaurant experience in Nashville, my boyfriend and I vowed to go back and try everything on the menu.

We went here for my wife's birthday and sat at the counter which we really enjoyed. We were able to interact with the chefs and watch how they prepared all the dishes. This even helped us pick what we wanted to order.

I had salmon and my wife had duck, both were very good. We also ordered the chef's 3 course tasting and ate it like an appetizer. We actually preferred our entries but it was all still very good.

The food was great! Service was great! Great bloody Mary . We will be back !

Tags: Fun, Creative Cuisine, Great for Lunch, Vibrant Bar Scene, Special Occasion, Great for Brunch, Fit for Foodies, Pre/post Theatre, Handcrafted Cocktails, Vegan, Sunday Lunch, Good for Birthdays, Good for Anniversaries, Tapas, Good for a Date, Good Vegetarian Options

It was our 37 th Anniversary. We have dined with The Chef and I at their Lenox Village location twice before. We love sitting at the food bar and watching the Chefs and interacting in conversation. We love trying new dishes. They definitely knocked it out of the park once again!

I don't understand how this restaurant has accumulated so many 5 star reviews. I can only guess that it doesn't take much to please diners in Lenox Village. Just 10 days in this new Gulch location, they will need to up their game if they are to compete in Nashville proper. The chef counter concept is not enough, the food must also be good and consistent - especially if served to the same party. I have no intentions to ever go back.

This was my second visit to this location. We went for Sunday brunch. I had a group of 12 and we were all seated promptly. Most of us elected to have the bottomless mimosas. Everyone was pleased with there meal. We will come back often.

The food is fantastic, the chefs are fantastic, the vibe is fantastic. Each time we've been to the Chef and I we leave there giddy about the meal we just ate. One of the best restaurants in Nashville and this weekend was hands down the best meal I've had in quite a while. Can't wait to go back!

Tags: Fun, Neighborhood Gem, Fit for Foodies, Good for a Date, Good for Birthdays, Tapas, Good for Anniversaries, Tasting Menu, Special Occasion, Worth the Drive, Hot Spot, Creative Cuisine

Awesome, energetic atmosphere and staff. recently moved to the gulch from another location. Food was excellent. Service was a little disjointed but overall this is a great addition to the downtown/gulch restaurant scene.

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